US3663113A

US3663113A - Fluid applicator assembly

Info

Publication number: US3663113A
Application number: US63779A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Frain; Frank T Brunner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-14
Filing date: 1970-08-14
Publication date: 1972-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1989-05-16

Abstract

A fluid applicator assembly including a retainer ring adapted to be snugly fitted within the open end of a container, the ring having at one end an inwardly extending peripheral web member having a valve opening therein, a cover means secured to the forward end of the retainer, a valve stem extending through the valve opening and having an abutment at one end lying against a cover means for the assembly and a valve head at its other end lying against the underside of the web, and a coil spring urging the valve stem in a forward direction, the wall of the web opening being inclined forwardly so as to define a valve seat and the wall of the web opening being further inclined inwardly so as to permit easy snap-in insertion of the valve stem through the opening.

Description

United States Patent Frain et a].

[ 51 May 16, 1972 [541 FLUID APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY [22] Filed: Aug. 14, i970 [21] Appl.N0.: 63,779

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 929,953 6/1963 Great Britain ..40l/206 Primary xaminerLawrence Charles A!torneyWatson. Cole. Grindle & Watson 57 ABSTRACT A fluid applicator assembly including a retainer ring adapted to be snugly fitted within the open end of a container. the ring having at one end an inwardly extending peripheral web member having a valve opening therein, a cover means secured to the forward end of the retainer, a valve stem extending through the valve opening and having an abutment at one end lying against a cover means for the assembly and a valve head at its other end lying against the underside of the web, and a coil spring urging the valve stem in a forward direction, the wall of the web opening being inclined forwardly so as to define a valve seat and the wall of the web opening being further inclined inwardly so as to permit easy snap-in insertion of the valve stem through the opening.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] HAY 1 6 i972 INVENTORS, JOHN J Few/v EMA/K 7." Beam/5e BY 4,204, 64, alt/SJ! ATTORNEYS FLUID APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to fluid applicators and more particularly to a fluid applicator assembly wherein easy insertion can be effected by a snapping in of the valve stem within the valve opening during assembly.

Although many of the fluid applicators heretofore devised make use of a specific spring means for urging the head of a valve in a valve-closing position against a valve opening, it has been found that many of these prior art devices do not efiectively apply a quantity of fluid onto the intended surface in an even and uninterrupted manner because of their relatively complex assembly of parts. This not only creates an additional cost in labor and materials but oftentimes reduces the effectiveness of the fluid applicator assembly if such parts are not properly assembled. It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a fluid applicator assembly which requires a minimum number of parts and yet which is highly efficient in effectively transferring a quantity of fluid onto a surface intended to be marked in a continuous and even flow without leakage, spillage or blotching.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid applicator assembly which employs the use of a spring urged valve stem having a valve head which may be easily inserted through a valve opening at the forward end of a retainer ring without the need for subsequent assembly of parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a fluid applicator assembly in which the valve opening is located within a relatively thin web member allowing the valve stem to be easily snapped in with its valve head resting behind the valve opening, such insertion taking place without restraint by such web member.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is an elevational view in section of the fluid applicator assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating the device when in use; and

HO. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the fluid applicator assembly generally designated by the numeral is shown in FIG. 1 in its relation to a container ll seen therein in phantom and shown in section in FIG. 2 of the drawings. A retainer ring 12 is provided and is adapted to be snugly fitted within the open end of container l l, the retainer ring having near its forward end a web member 13 having an opening 14 provided therein and also having an outwardly and upwardly extending peripheral flange 15 which is slightly swaged inwardly so as to present a constricted circular groove 16 defined also by an upwardly extending rib 17 of a generally circular configuration. A cover 18, which may be in the form of a nylon substance or foam plastic or other similar material, is tightly secured within the groove [6 along with a porous resilient member 19 which is laminated or otherwise bonded to the underside of the cover 18 the member 19 being of a coarse polyurethane foam or similar substance.

A valve stem 21 is disposed through the opening 14 and has at one end a conical valve head 22 and at its other end an abutment 23 which is made to lie against the underside of the porous resilient member 19. A coil spring 24 is disposed between the upper side of the web member 13 and the abutment 23 thereby urging the valve stem forwardly so that the conical valve head 22 will be made to lie against the underside of the web member 13 as shown in the drawings. The wall defining the web member opening 14 is inclined forwardly or toward one end of the retainer ring as at 25 and the wall of the web member opening is also inclined inwardly or toward the other end of the retainer ring as at 26. The inclination 25 of the web member opening defines a valve seat for the conical valve head while the other inclination 26 of the web member opening is provided for the purpose of permitting the valve stem with its valve head 22 to be inserted through the valve opening from the forward end with a snap-in movement. Since the retainer ring 12 is preferably made of molded polyethylene and since its web member 13 is designed to be relatively thin in cross-section as compared with the length of the valve stem 21, insertion of the valve stem is substantially unrestrained by reason of the thin web member.

During use of the instant fluid applicator assembly, the porous resilient member 19 is simply pressed against the top of a surface S whereby the conical valve head 22 is moved away from the inclined surface 25 of the valve seat as shown in F IG. 2 of the drawings so as to permit a quantity of fluid F, which was obviously entrained within the retainer ring 12, to by-pass the web member 13 through the opening 14 and therefore completely saturate the member 19 which in turn wets the cover l8 and applies a suitable marking to the surface 8. As can be seen from the drawings, the valve stem 21 is slightly tapered in a forward direction so that with only a slight depression of the member 19, the opening 14 will become uncovered. Also, it can be seen in FIG. 3 that the stem 21 is circular in cross-section as well as its abutment 23.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that a simple, yet highly effective fluid applicator assembly has been devised making use of a significantly few number of parts by reason of the valve stem being capable of snapping in to the valve opening in a manner as described. An even distribution of the fluid from the container through the cover is assured while, at the same time, the valve stem design has been vastly simplified since it may be easily molded as a one-piece polyethylene member without the need for securing together any portion of the valve means. This has been found to be not only a tremendous time and labor saver, but it also improves the efficiency of the assembly since parts which must otherwise be assembled are not needed for this applicator construction.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For example, the applicator or dauber of the present invention is capable of metering fluid having various viscosities in an effective manner and is adapted for use in applying or marking any surface for which applicators of this type are feasible. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid applicator assembly comprising a retainer ring having at one end an inwardly extending peripheral web member integrally secured thereto and having an opening therein, a cover secured at said one end and a resilient porous member disposed beneath and in contact with said cover and also secured at said one end, a valve stem disposed in said web member opening and having an abutment at one end in contact with the underside of said resilient porous member and having a conical valve head at its other end in contact with the inner side of said web member, said valve stem also being conical in shape with said conical valve head located at the larger end of said stern, a coil spring disposed between the upper side of said web member and said abutment thereby urging said valve stem in a forward direction, the wall of said web member opening having a surface inclined toward said retainer one end so as to define a valve seat for said conical valve head, said web member wall having also a surface inclined inwardly of said retainer so as to permit an easy snap in insertion of said valve stem into said web member opening, said larger end of said stem being disposed between said inclined surfaces whereby slight inward movement of said porous resilient cover against the action of said spring serves to move said valve head away from said valve seat to thereby open said web member opening as said larger end is moved slightly inwardly of said web member.

2. The fluid applicator according to claim 1 wherein said web member is dimensioned to be relatively thin as compared to the length of said valve stem whereby the snap-in insertion of said valve stem is unrestrained by reason of said web member.

Claims

1. A fluid applicator assembly comprising a retainer ring having at one end an inwardly extending peripheral web member integrally secured thereto and having an opening therein, a cover secured at said one end and a resilient porous member disposed beneath and in contact with said cover and also secured at said one end, a valve stem disposed in said web member opening and having an abutment at one end in contact with the underside of said resilient porous member and having a conical valve head at its other end in contact with the inner side of said web member, said valve stem also being conical in shape with said conical valve head located at the larger end of said stem, a coil spring disposed between the upper side of said web member and said abutment thereby urging said valve stem in a forward direction, the wall of said web member opening having a surface inclined toward said retainer one end so as to define a valve seat for said conical valve head, said web member wall having also a surface inclined inwardly of said retainer so as to permit an easy snap-in insertion of said valve stem into said web member opening, said larger end of said stem being disposed between said inclined surfaces whereby slight inward movement of said porous resilient cover against the action of said spring serves to move said valve head away from said valve seat to thereby open said web member opening as said larger end is moved slightly inwardly of said web member.